Washing machine



Feb. 3, 1942. Y B. A. BENSON 2,272,030

Y WASHING MACHINE f Filed uarcn'le, 1959 2 sheets-shawl lNvENTOK K5"A L@@Wmmm Feb.'3, 1942;

l B. A. BENSON.

WASHING MACHINE Filed. Narn 1e, 19'59 2 Sheets-Shee-t 2 INVENTORATToRNEY.

Patented Feb. 3, 1942 UNITED vsTA'rr-is .PATENT AOFFICE v ywas-nlzivnrcnmp l y l Chicago, lll., a corporation or IllinoisApplication Maren 16, iosa-serial No. 262,195

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to a washing machine, and moreparticularly to a machine of the reciprocating agitating type.

The present invention is directed to and contemplates the provision ofawashing machine construction lwhich particularly lends itself to use insmall, compact, and portable units. 'Y There is a present .need forwashing and cleanslng'devices adapted for handling only a few articlesand capable of beingstored in any relatively small storage space. .Thepresent inventionrelates to such a device, whichv may be readily set upto Wash such articles as are preferably cleansed daily. 'I'he presentinvention, accordingly, contemplates the provision of a compact washingmachine' construction having a generally cylindrical configuration andincluding complete driving and transmission means for .a surge-producingor agitator member of the vertically reciprocating type.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide'a light Vand portable washing machine construction, as above, having theupper part of the cylindrical conguration i devoted to a separable coverwhich is completely free from securement to the remainder of the washingdevice. and which forms a housing completely enclosing the entiredrive'rnechanism as Y presentv invention is to provide a sliding sealbetween the washing speciiicatIOn, when taken in connection withthethereof; Fig. 31s a detail sectional view taken through accompanyingdrawings, wherein: f

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a washer constructed in accordance-withthe present invention;

Fig 2 is a sectional view taken centrally through the washer of Fig. 1,on the line 2 2 view taken on the plane struction, taken on the line'|-1 in Fig. 6;

' Fig. 8 is a detail section through the ha taken on the plane 8-8 oflFig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of a modied ndle,

y preferred form of handle construction;

'ing machine of substantially cylindrical form` and chamber and therelatively elevated drive mechanism chamber, whereby the reciprocatingplunger is enabled to act vertically within the washing zone, whilepreventing the 'settling vof dirt and lubricant from the vicinity of thedrive mechanism.

Among other objects oi the present invention. is contemplated theprovision vof aninternal drive construction having self-oiled,relatively movable bearing portions at all points of june-- ture,wherein substantial rotation occurs under load; and toprovlde aconstruction wherein the transversely tothe. lower edges of the walls 22freelyremovable top portion of the washer is4 4 `devoid of projectinghandles. i n

Other and further objects Yand advantages of the present invention willmore fully appear during the course and progress of `the yfollowing v asat 30. It'should be noted that the transverse 'taken on the line ing analternative modified form of support or buer for the cover portion ofthe machine.

Referring to the drawings, wherein one preferred embodiment of theinvention is disclosed more .in detail, Figs.- 1 and 2 show awashcomprising fa lower washing vessel l0 and an upper cylindrical coverportion l2. 'I he washing vessel I0 has a circular bottom wall Il and anintegral, upstanding, cylindrical sidewall I6 I8,. upon which thementioned wall I6 when the parts are operatively e assembled. The coverconstruction forms a closed housing through the cooperative positioningof a lower transverse wall 24, which extends andA is secured in positionthrough the agency of .machine screws 26 threadedly engaging in aplurality of brackets 2l, welded to the side wall 22,

:wall 4alias aperipheral portion 32 extending horizontally so that it.can rest upon the .bead I8v of the lower washing vessel,"the material ofed form of plunger the wall interiorly of the rim portion 32 beingformed downwardly, as at 34, to center the cover in operative position.

An electric drive motor 36 is mounted interiorly of the cover unit andupon the lower'transverse wall 24 through the agency of a pair ofbrackets 38 (see Fig. 6), which brackets are fastened tothe supportingwall and the magnetic core of the motor by fastenings 40. The motor isso arranged that its armature drive shaft 42 normally extendsvertically. The lower end of the drive shaft 42 mounts a fanconstruction 44, directing a continual draft of air upwardly against themotor, in cooling relationship. The present motor construction comprisesan upper bearing supporting bracket 46, upon which is mounted anupstanding housing 48 through the agency of machine bolts 50. Thehousing accommodates the upper end of the. motor drive shaft, upon whichis secured a worm gear 52 (see Figs. 2, and 6). The worm gear, asclearly indicated in the figures, meshes with a-mating worm wheel 54fixed to a horizontal shaft 56. The shaft 56 is rotatably journalled inthe housing 48, as clearly shown in Fig. 5.

Attention is particularly directed to the fact that the housing is boredto accommodate the worm wheel 54 and provides a considerable spaceadjacent the worm wheel, as at 58, which space is provided with a supplyof lubricant. The space is sealed by means of a cap 60 pressed intoplace in the end ofthe bore. It will be accordto one method of joiningthe parts, the resilient bell-shaped agitator 84 is originally moldedabout a fastening 88'which, as shown in Fig. 4, poesses somewhat theconguration of a machine screw but having a head portion which is deeplyknurled, as at 90, and provided with a 'plurality of slots 92 forpositive engagement with the resilient casing. As clearly shown in thefigures, the fastening threadedly engages a threaded recess in the lowerend of the plunger shaft 86.

The shaft 96 passes through the transverse lowerwall 24 of the cover linthe region of a centrai well or recess 94 (Fig. 2) wherein is mounted anelongated Journal or bushing 96. Attention is particularly 'directed tothe fact that the bush' ing 96, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 6,coopcrates with a sealing construction 98. The seaiing constructioncomprises anannular ring |00 having upper and lower inwardly extendingflanges |02'and |04 providing an inwardly facing annular recess. Therecess embraces a sealing washer |06 and a Aretaining washer |08. Thesealing washer preferably comprises a resilient sealing material such asrubber or felt. Preferably, there is employed an oil-resistant materialof the class known -as Lastics, and having the general properties ofresilient rubber combined ingly understood that the worm gearing, aswell definite supply so that the parts are not subject to the necessityof periodic servicing. l

The opposite end of the shaft 56 has secured thereto a crank unit 62,rigidly fixed to the shaft by means of a fastening 64. A resilientwasher of felt or oil-resistant artificial rubber, indicated by thereference numeral 66, and engaged between the crank unit 62 and thehousing 48 (Figs. 2 and 5), spaces the partsand prevents loss oflubricant.

Attention is particularly directed to the fact that the crank member islocated almost in alinement with the central axis of the cover, butslightly offset. The crank drives through the medium o f a link 68, avertically reciprocating plunger or agitator 10 extending below thecover construction and in operative position into the Washing zone ofthe lower vessel I0. The journal between the crank-and the link 68 issimilarly provided with self-oiling means.

As shown more clearly in Fig. 7, a pivot member 12 is threadedly engagedin the end of the crank arm, as at 14, and has an enlarged pivot portion16 extending through the end of the link 68. It should be noted that thepivot portion 16 is embraced by a cup-like grease retaining member 18. Asecond reversely extending cup-likemember. 80 is forced over the flangeof the first cup-like member, providing a housing for a predeterminedsupply of-lubricant. Therefore, the relatively rotatable parts arecontinually and indefinitely furnished with the necessary lubrication.

The lower end of the crank member 68 extends into a bifurcation in theupper end of the plunger assembly to embrace a pivot 82 mounted in theplunger. The agitator or plunger in the present embodiment comprises abell-shaped resilient member 84 and a plunger rod or shaft 86, juncturedas indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. According with that of oil resistance.-The upper washer |08 merely retains the resilient member |06 in sealingposition about the shaft 86.

It should be noted that during assembly the bushing 96 is passed througha central aperture in the well 9,4 and'in the lower flange |04 of theretaining ring, and the upper portion of the bushing is upset or headedover to retain both the ring 98 'and the bushing rigidly in place uponthe supporting wall. According to one method of procedure the washers|06 and |08 may be then placed in position, butv before the finalformation of the flange portion |02.

To facilitate assembly in this manner the retaining ring 98,accordingly, originally is devoid of the flange |02, while beingprovided with an axial extension of the cylindrical wall |00 adapted tobe later folded inwardly to provide the necessary flange. Pursuant tothis construction, the resilient washer |06 resiliently embraces thecylindrical shaft 86, whereby lubricant or grime accumulating in theregion of the bushing is prevented from passing into the lower chamber.

Manual control of the parts is facilitated by handle constructions oneach of the units. The lower washing vessel I8 is provided with opposedhandles ||0 (Figs. 5 and 8), mounted upon the vessel by screws H2. Thecover unit, in place of projecting handles, is provided with opposed,elongated apertures H4 formed in outwardly embossed or offset portionsI| 6 of the side wall 22.

- It is very important in this construction that fingers of the user areinserted into these aperthe edges of the aperture be rounded since thetures to grasp the unit.

A plurality of upstanding slots 8 arranged Vabout the periphery of thecover provides ventila-v sulting rotation of the crank 62 verticallyrelwardly facing annular groove f or recess bushing sleeve l96cooperates with a cup-shad retaining member |36-adjacent its upper endfor ciprocates the plunger or agitator 84. Accordingly, a mass of wash,together -with soapy water, placed in the container is vsuiiicientlysubjected to agitation to produce a washing action. The

, resilient character ofthe rubber plunger 84 prevents harmful effect onthe materials being washed, while the form of the plunger is such as toproduce an alternate suction and compression of the-entrapped air, sothat the resultant surging of the fluid is resilientlyeifected.

The cover unit, comprisingall .the movable parts, may be lifted from thevessel |0 and rested at a remote point while the vessel is beingcharged, emptied, or cleansed.

Reverting to the construction part of the cover, attention is called tothe fact vof the lower that the transverse lower wall of the cover 24radially beyond the central well or recess 94 extends in a flathorizontal plane. However, it is to be particularly noted thatjustinwardly of its peripheral marginaly portion, this wall 24 iscurved intransverse `section to provide a down.-

|50 bounded peripherally by a` downwardly projecting rib portion |52.All this, as clearly shown in Figure 2, results from laterally curvingthe material of the wall 24 to provide radially disposed mergingupwardly and downwardly curved annular grooves |52 and |54.Attention'is. particularly directed to the fact that this constructionis of great importance in preventing water or other washing fluid frompassing outwardly along the' undersurface of the coverl through thejuncture between the cover and the uppery rim of the washing vessel. Ithas long been observed that water splashed upon a' cover in this mannertends to escape between the cover and the tub by falling or flowingalong the upper horizontal surface against whichit is splashed by theaction of the washer. In accordance with preventing access of moistureto the region of the driving motor. Thus, it will be noted that thecup-shaped member |36 is an annular ring of generally' I .shaped sectionsecured to the cover by the flange on the end of the sleeve, as

in the foregoing alternative embodiment. An an-v nular cover `|38 isprovided, the periphery of ,v

.which clampingly engages the cup, as clearly shown in Fig. 11. v l

The inner peripheral `edge of the cover or ring |38 is defined by anaperture vaccommodating the plunger'shaft 86, yandattention isparticularly directed to the fact that these inner peripheral portions,which are designated by the reference numeral |40, arenot only spaced,from the shaft 86, but are 'curved axially downwardly about the shaft.It-will be evident that the cover |38 provides with a cap |36 anenclosure adapted to re- -tainv any small amount of moisture which mayfollow upwardly along the shaft 86 and into the y cover portion. If Vthecover is inverted,A as when the present invention, however, thisdifculty is substantially obviated by -virtue of the foregoingconstruction which results in complete release of waterby the uppersurface at a point radially inwardly disposed from the periphery of thewall 24. In vother Words,v it has been found'that they waterthrown'upwardly against the undersurface of the wall 24 tends to -flowoutwardly into the groove or downwardly facing recess and is thendirected downwardly by the rib or downit is removed from operativeposition andreste'd j on any suitable support, the liquidcontained inthis enclosure will be prevented from running out by virtue of thecurved flange |40,

It should be particularly noted that the sleeve -or bushing 96 providesa journal or guide for the shaft 86 which does not require oiling orartificial lubrication. That is-to say, the normal operation of theshaft or bar 86 in a soapy washing uid provides a film of the said iiuidbetween the sleeve 96 and the shaft 86 which in operation serves as alubricant.- In the embodiment shown in Figs. 2 and 6, the sealing washer|06 restricts the upwardtravel of the washing liquid,vthus liquidupwardly along the shaft, but similarly ward projection. |52 which formsthe outer margin lof the recess so that it is released from adherence tothe wall and fiows back into the tub. 4'Ihe foregoing accordinglyprevents washing uid from` reaching the outer rim flange.

I have shown inFigs. 9 and 10 a modified form of handle construction forthe washingvessel |0,`

and which is adapted 'to be substituted for the provides a supply oflubricant fluid Vto the lower portions ofthe shaft at all times. It willbe obvious that this construction yis of considerable importance sinceit eliminates thel necessity for the use of objectionable lubricantsinthe region of the washing zone.

There is disclosed in Fig. 12 a modifiedv form of rest or buffer-supportwhich may be substituted for, the convex formations |20 on the topsurface handle construction heretofore described. The e main body A| I0of the instant handle construction is adapted to receive 'screws V| I2',asbefore,

but is additionally strengthened by -vi-rtue of a' 20 of the cover. Inaccordance with vthis con? struction a generally hemispherical member|42 is secured on the outer atsurface of the top -Wall 20 by meansv of apair of lugs |44 extending through suitable slits in the cover and bentover,

band |30, peripherally enclosing the outer por-" tions o f the handleand residing in a suitable receiving channel or groove |32 (see Figs. 9and 10). The strip |30 is secured i-n place by virtue of the opposedlateral flanges |34 at its extremities and which are. engaged by thefastening means ||2. It will be 4apparent that the strip |30, which maybe of some suitable sheet metal, for example, functions to bind the.handle tostrength. y l

There is shown in Fig. 11 a modified form of plunger shaft journal, inwhich'the journal or gether for conferring additional structural'durability of the construction.

as clearly shown in this gure. This construe-- tion is of advantagewhere the present machine is provided with an exterior nish susceptibleto wear, and wherein the constant abrasion of supporting projections |20on the supporting surface 'would destroy the surface coating. 'Ihus, the

supporting buffers |42 may be made of any suitable wear-resistingmaterial forimproving the I The present invention provides a very simpleconstruction which may be furnished in small units for washing stockingsand the like, and isv of `value in obviating the accumulation of un- 3.A washing machine construction as denned in claim 2 wherein saidchamber-.includes therein Numerous changes may be made in the form,

construction .and arrangement of the several parts without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the invention, or sacrincing any of itsattendant advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all suchchanges as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is .claimed as follows:

1. A washing machine construction of the vertically reciprocatingplunger type having a cover member comprising a reciprocating plungerand motor vdrive therefor, means 'on said cover for journaling saidplunger comprising a guide sleeve extending a substantial distanceaxially of the plunger, means Ato permanently iubricate said sleevecomprising a relatively rigid means at the upper end of said sleeve formaintaining a film of liquid within the sleeve by redirecting liquid onsaid shaft relatively downwardly along said shaft during upward movementthereof, said last mentioned means comprising an annular chamber aboutthe plunger, said chamber being relatively short in vertical extent andhaving its upper portion disposed below the upper extremity of theplunger in all positions thereof, a layer of resilient elastic materialsupported by said chamber embracing and resiliently bearing against thesurface' of said plunger for sealing the surface of the plunger andretaining washing liquid in the guide sleeve therebelow and a'coverportion for said chamber-engaging said layer of resilient elasticmaterial for holding said material in predetermined plunger engagingrelation.

2. A washing machineconstruction of the vertically reciprocating plungertype having a' cover member comprising a reciprocating plunger and motordrive means therefor, means on said cover for journaling said plungerand comprising a guide sleeve, means to permanently lubricate saidsleeve comprising'a cup-shaped retaining means at the upper end of saidsleeve and forming an annular chamber about the plunger, said chamberbeing relatively short in vertical extent and having its upper portiondisposed below the upper extremity of the plunger in all positionsthereof, said upper portion ofthe cup-shaped retaining means providing acover extending inwardly to a point radially spaced from said plungersurface and including means for retaining washing liquid when theconstruction is tilted.

a sliding seal means comprising a'layer of resilient elastic materialembracing and bearing against the surface of the plunger.

' 4. A washing machine construction of the vertically reciprocatingplunger type `having a cover member comprising a reciprocating plungerand motor drive means therefor, means on said cover for Journalllng saidplunger and comprising a guide sleeve, means to permanently lubricatesaid sleeve comprising a cup-shaped hollow liquid retaining means at theupper end of said sleeve and forming an annular open chamber about saidplunger, and a cover for said cup-shaped retainl ing means, said coverextending radially inwardly to a point spaced radially from said plungeradhering to the interior side of said cover from reaching the vicinityofsaid margin, said last named means comprising a downwardly facingannular recess formed in saidcover at a point inwardly spaced from saidmargin, said recess being bounded peripherally by a downwardly extendingannular rib projection located between said margin and'said recess, saidannular rib projection being adapted to direct liquid accumulating insaid annular groove downwardly in drops for breaking adherence with thecover.

6. In a cover for a washing machine of .the reciprocating agitator type,said cover having central horizontal Iportions and an outer peripheralmargin adapted to rest upon the upper rim of a washing tub, means toprevent washing uid adhering to the interior side of said cover fromreaching the vicinity of said margin, said last named' means comprisinga downwardly facing annular recess formed in said cover at a pointinwardly spaced from saidmargin, said recess being bounded peripherallyby a downwardly extending annular rib projection, said annular ribprojection being adapted to direct liquid accumulating in said annulargroove downwardly in drops for breaking adherence with the cover.

BERNHART A. BENSON.

